BLOOD SAMPLE SEGMENT EVACUATION TOOL

Abstract: The invention pertains to a tool for use in a medical laboratory for the safe and efficient release of blood products from blood sample segments. The tool consists of a formed piece of tubular plastic (12) which houses and anchors a hollow needle (14) with a sharpened end (18). The hollow needle (14) extends through the base (32) of the plastic housing and is used to pierce the blood sample segment (20), allowing the release of the blood products (22, 24) through the needle (14) in a controlled manner with no mess or cleanup. The use of this invention greatly reduces laboratory workers exposure to harmful blood borne pathogens like Hepatitis B and the AIDS Viruses, and in a way that is up to three times faster than the traditional means.

Description: BLOOD SAMPLE SEGMENT EVACUATION TOOL FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to personal safety in the medical laboratory, especially to the releasing of blood products from blood sample segments more efficiently, and in a way to minimize employee exposure to blood borne pathogens and disease. BACKGROUND—DESCRIPTION OF PRIOR ART When a patient is deficient in a blood product, such as red blood cells, platelets, or blood clotting factors, the doctor may order the patient to receive a transfusion from a donor source. In the laboratory, tests must be performed to ensure the donor blood products are compatible with the patient's blood type, preventing the possibility of a transfusion reaction. The compatibility testing requires that a sample of the red blood cells found in the donor unit of blood be removed without compromising the units integrity. This is accomplished with the use of blood sample segments. Blood sample segments are produced by heat sealing the inch plastic tubing that attaches the needle in the donors arm to the donor bag, in about two and a half inch segments. Each segment is full of blood, just like the blood to be given to the patient. The segments are folded together and bound with a rubber band, while still attached to the donor bag. This allows a blood sample to be removed for testing, one at a time, as needed. Heretofore the blood products were removed from the blood sample segments by cutting off one end with scissors, inserting the cut end into a clean test tube then cutting off the remaining end, allowing the blood to drain out by the force of gravity. This process frequently sprayed tiny droplets of blood into the air with the first cut of the scissors and always left blood on and between the blades of the scissors. The scissors must be wiped off before being used on another segment, and subsequently rinsed with bleach water before being put away. The most recent art work found with regard to blood sample segment evacuation was a device called Safety Segment Slitter, a patent pending product being sold by the Innovative Laboratory Acuylics, Inc. This device is a single piece of stainless steel, cut and shaped in a way that allows it to set in a test tube, with a sharp pointed blade cut out of one edge and bent so the point of the blade is centered in the device. As the segment is pushed down into the device it is sliced by the blade, allowing the blood to drain out over the blade and bottom plate into the test tube. The device does by-pass the use of scissors, but still allows undue exposure to blood borne pathogens in that the bottom plate and some of the sharp edges of the cut steel are covered with blood when the device is removed for disposal. The previously patented art work with regard to the releasing of blood from blood sample segments found to date are: 1) "Blood sample processor" patent number 4,320,787 by McMorrow. 2) "Blood sample processor" patent number 4,178,451 by McMorrow. 3) "Blood sample segment detaching and tearing device" patent number 4,790,842 by Coburn. It has been found these devices, although meritorious, are not practical in a blood bank with respect to cost and ease of use when compared to the standard use of scissors. Patents one and three above also have sharp surfaces exposed to the worker. The present invention, using a prototype in a real blood bank setting, has proven time and again to be faster, safer and easier to use than scissors. In addition, advantageously it can be mass produced at a reasonable cost, thereby giving the laboratory a much needed product at a very reasonable price. Hospital regulating agencies are getting more and more thorough in regards to employee safety in response to the ever increasing cases of blood borne related diseases occurring every day, including Hepatitis and, of course, AIDS. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION One object of the present invention is to provide an improved blood sample segment evacuation tool. A further object of the present invention is to provide a device for dispensing blood from a blood sample in segment characterized in that the device comprises: an elongated cylindrical tube having an open end for receiving the blood sample segment and having a closed end, an elongated hollow shaft housed within the cylindrical tube and secured thereto near the closed end, the shaft having an inside bore forming a passageway from within the cylindrical tube, through the closed end, the elongated hollow shaft having a shank with a diameter and an angled upper edge formed to pierce a wall of the blood sample segment as the cylindrical tube guides the blood sample segment onto the shaft, the passageway delivering blood from within the blood sample segment, through the closed end of the elongated cylinder. INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY To provide a tool for the blood bank employee which allows a safe means of releasing the blood sample from a blood sample segment without the fear of air borne blood droplets, the exposure to sharp, contaminated equipment or the clean up of blood equipment, thereby improving work conditions and allowing peace of mind by elimination of undue exposure to blood borne pathogens. The use of this invention also allows a faster and more efficient means of retrieving blood samples from blood sample segments, cutting the release time by one third over scissors and in a way that virtually eliminates any accidental exposure to blood or sharp edges. Further objects and advantages of the invention will be obvious from a consideration of the ensuing description and the accompanying drawing. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Fig. 1 shows a perspective elevational view of a one-piece tool according to one embodiment of the invention; Fig. 2 shows a top view of such tool taken along the line 2—2 of Fig. 1; and Fig. 3 shows a level side view of such tool positioned to be inserted into a clean test tube with a blood sample segment positioned to be inserted into such tool. DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Fig. 1 shows a single-piece tool according to the preferred embodiment of the invention. The tool is comprised of a hollow needle 14 approximately 5/8 inch long which is sharpened at the free end by a single angled cut across the shank producing a bevelled edge 18. The needle 14 is connected to the well 32, extending through the bottom, with the blunt end of the needle 19 stopping flush with the outside edge of the well 32. The protective outer portion of the tool is a single tubular piece of formed plastic with a needle attachment 16 which is located in the center of the well 32. The attachment of the needle 14 to the base of the well 32 can be accomplished by: a) forced plastic injection molding of the outer shell around the needle base 18 with the needle 14 in place within the mold prior to injection or, b) by the use of an adhesive to hold needle 14 into a pre¬ formed hole at the base of well 32. The walls of the well 32 are parallel with the needle 14 and become the tube guide 12 measuring approximately 5/18 of an inch wide and approximately 1 inch long. The tube guide 12 tapers out to make the funnelled edge 10 which joins with the lip 8 at the top. The single-piece tool of Fig. 1 is designed to facilitate a safer and more efficient means to release the contents of blood sample tubing for testing within a blood bank laboratory including quality control and compatibility testing. Fig. 3 shows a perspective elevational view of the invention in use, where the user sets the tool in the opening of a clean test tube 28 so that the tube guide 12 is inside the test tube 26 with the funnel edge 10 resting in the opening of the test tube 28. The funnel edge 10 is tapered in a way to accommodate a variety of the test tube sizes. The blood sample segment 20 is inserted past the funnel edge 10 and directed by the tube guide 12 so that the needle 14 pierces the bottom edge of the blood sample segment 20 in the center. The blood sample segment 20 is pushed all the way down until its end is sitting at the bottom of the well 32, ensuring the bevel of the needle 18 has completely entered into the blood sample segment 20. The blood inside the blood sample segment 20 usually separates with the clear yellowish plasma 22 on top and the red blood cells 24 on the bottom. Because the user needs a sample of the donor red blood cells to check for compatibility with the recipient blood, it is necessary to insert the blood sample segment 20 with the plasma end 22 sticking up out of the tool, giving the user a concentrated sample of red blood cells when the tool is activated. If the plasma 22 and the red blood cells 24 are mixed or if the blood sample segment holds only one product, such as fresh frozen plasma, then either end may be inserted. Once the blood sample segment 20 is in place with the needle 14 penetrating the end of the blood sample segment 20, the user applies gentle pressure to the portion of the blood sample segment 20 protruding out of the top of the tool. Under gentle pressure, the blood product at the bevel edge of the needle 18 will be forced through the needle 14, exiting a drop at a time from the blunt end of the needle 19 into the bottom of the test tube 24. Once the desired amount of blood product has been released, the tool and the blood sample segment 20 can be disposed of as one unit without fear of continued draining of blood products or exposure to sharp edges. With the tools design, no blood can escape out of the needle 14 if pressure is not being applied, because of the vacuum that forms inside the blood sample segment 20 once the user releases pressure. While the above description contains many specificities, the reader should not construe these as limitations on the scope of the invention, but merely an example of the preferred embodiments thereof. Artisans with an imagination will easily be able to change the dimensions and shapes of the various embodiments. For example, the funnelled opening could be stair shaped for the different test tube sizes, or omitted completely so the guide section joins directly with an over-sized lip at the top. The tube guide section could be made longer or shorter, and could be made oval shaped or even square. The hollow needle could be made of different lengths, or have a variety of bore sizes. It may be possible to make the needle out of plastic as one unit with the outer casing. Accordingly, the reader is requested to determine the scope of the invention by the appended claims and their legal equivalents, and not by the examples which have been given.

Claims: I CLAIM: 1. A device for dispensing blood from a blood sample in segment characterized in that said device comprises: an elongated cylindrical tube having an open end for receiving said blood sample segment and having a closed end, an elongated hollow shaft housed within said cylindrical tube and secured thereto near said closed end, said shaft having an inside bore forming a passageway from within said cylindrical tube, through said closed end, said elongated hollow shaft having a shank with a diameter and an angled upper edge formed to pierce a wall of said blood sample segment as said cylindrical tube guides said blood sample segment onto said shaft, said passageway delivering blood from within said blood sample segment, through said closed end of said elongated cylinder. 2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 characterized in that said cylindrical tube is formed of plastic as one piece. 3. Apparatus as defined in claim 2 characterized in that said cylindrical tube has a funnel shape at said open end. 4. Apparatus as defined in claim 2 characterized in that said open end and said closed end are joined by a guide section with an inside diameter approximately five sixteenths of an inch wide. 5. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 characterized in that said elongated hollow shaft has a sharpened free end facing said open end. 6. A device for dispensing blood from said blood sample segment, according to claim 1, characterized in that said cylindrical tube has protective tubular walls that extend upward beyond said upper edge of said shaft, said tubular walls supporting said blood sample segment while blood is dispensed therefrom. 7. A device for dispensing blood from said blood sample segment, according to claim 1, characterized in that said shaft comprises a needle, said closed end of said cylindrical tube being fixedly attached to a base of said needle. 8. A device for dispensing blood from said blood sample segment, according to claim 1, characterized in that said cylindrical tube includes a well at said closed end, said well being filled with adhesive to affix a base of said shank to said cylindrical tube. 9. A device for dispensing blood from said blood sample segment, according to claim 1, characterized in that said shaft is formed of a first rigid material and said cylindrical tube is formed of a second rigid material, said first rigid material being harder that said second rigid material. 10. A device for dispensing blood from said blood sample segment, according to claim 1, characterized in that an outer surface of said tube is received firmly within an open end of a test tube, said passageway delivering said blood from said blood sample segment to said test tube. 11. A device for dispensing blood from said blood sample segment, according to claim 1, said shank being received within, and forming a sealing relation with, a wall of said blood sample segment. 12. A device for dispensing blood from said blood sample segment, according to claim 1, characterized in that said diameter of said shank and said angle of said upper edge are formed to minimize an amount of force upon said blood sample segment necessary to induce said shaft to penetrate said wall of said blood sample segment. 13. A system having a blood sample segment and a device for dispensing blood from said blood sample segment, characterized in that said device comprises: an elongated cylindrical tube having one open end for receiving said blood sample segment and having one closed end for retaining said blood sample segment within said tube, an elongated hollow needle housed within said tube, said needle projecting through, and being secured to, said closed end, said tube guiding a bottom end of said sample segment onto a tip of said needle, said needle being formed to pierce said bottom end as said blood sample segment is pushed downward until said bottom end rests on said closed end, an inside bore of said needle providing a passageway for the blood from said blood sample segment and through said closed end of said tube. 14. A system having a blood sample segment and a device for dispensing blood from said blood sample segment, according to claim 13, characterized in that said needle is formed with a diameter and a bevelled edge on said tip which minimize an amount of force exerted upon said blood sample segment necessary to induce said shaft to penetrate said wall of said blood sample segment. 15. A system having a blood sample segment and a device for dispensing blood from said blood sample segment, according to claim 13, characterized in that said cylindrical tube is formed of injection molded plastic which is formed independently of said shaft, said closed end of said cylindrical tube being fixedly attached to said base of said shaft. 16. A system having a blood sample segment and a device for dispensing blood from said blood sample segment, according to claim 13, characterized in that said cylindrical tube is formed as a unitary piece of plastic. 17. A system having a blood sample segment and a device for dispensing blood from said blood sample segment, according to claim 13, characterized in that said cylindrical tube includes an upper end that is funnel shaped. 18. A system having a blood sample segment and a device for dispensing blood from said blood sample segment, according to claim 13, characterized in that said cylindrical tube includes guide walls having an inside diameter of approximately five sixteenths of an inch. 19. A system having a blood sample segment and a device for dispensing blood from said blood sample segment, according to claim 13, characterized in that said needle includes a sharpened upper edge facing said open end of said cylindrical tube and a lower end that extends through said closed end of said cylindrical tube. 20. A system having a blood sample segment and a device for dispensing blood from said blood sample segment, according to claim 13, characterized in that said cylindrical tube has protective tubular walls that extend upward beyond said upper edge of said shaft, said tubular walls supporting said blood sample segment while blood is dispensed therefrom. 21. A system having a blood sample segment and a device for dispensing blood from said blood sample segment, according to claim 13, a base of said needle is fixedly attached to said closed end of said cylindrical tube. 22. A system having a blood sample segment and a device for dispensing blood from said blood sample segment, according to claim 13, characterized in that said cylindrical tube includes a well at said closed end, said well being filled with adhesive to affix said base of said needle to said cylindrical tube. 23. A system having a blood sample segment and a device for dispensing blood from said blood sample segment, according to claim 13, characterized in that said needle is formed of a first rigid material and said cylindrical tube is formed of a second rigid material, said first rigid material being harder than said second rigid material. 24. A system having a blood sample segment and a device for dispensing blood from said blood sample segment, according to claim 13, characterized in that an outer surface of said tube is received firmly within an open end of a test tube, said passageway delivering said blood from said blood sample segment to said test tube. 25. A system having a blood sample segment and a device for dispensing blood from said blood sample segment, according to claim 13, said needle being receiving within, and forming a sealing relation with, a wall of said blood sample segment. 26. A system having a blood sample segment and a device for dispensing blood from said blood sample segment, according to claim 13, characterized in that a diameter of a shank of said needle and an angle of an upper edge thereof are formed to minimize an amount of force upon said blood sample segment necessary to induce said shaft to penetrate said wall of said blood sample segment. 27. A device for dispensing blood from said blood sample segment, according to claim 1, said device being used in combination with said blood sample segment. 28. A device for dispensing blood from said blood sample segment, according to claim 1, said shaft having a base that extends through, and is secured to, said closed end of said cylindrical tube.

Inventors: THOMPSON WILLIAM H, THOMPSON, WILLIAM, H.
Applicants: THOMPSON WILLIAM H, THOMPSON, WILLIAM, H.
Application year: 1994
Main classification: B01L3
IPC codes: B01L11, G01N1